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Denver, Colorado · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Denver
This month's sowing list for Denver, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
4 vegetables to sow or plant now
4 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around May 4, and frost is unlikely after about May 22.
Sow or plant in Denver in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
- Fava beans
Transplant
- Cabbage
- Garlic
- Onion
Last month to start: cabbage, fava beans, garlic and onion.
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Beets
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Brussels sprouts
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celery
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Kale
- Leek
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Potato
- Radish
- Scallions
- Strawberry
- Swiss chard
- Turnip
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Denver
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: April to May.
Transplant: June to July.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 17 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: May to July.
Best time to start: May to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 9 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: September to October.
Best time to start: September to October.
Pick: June to August.
First pick about 36 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: March to May and August.
Best time to start: March to May and August.
Pick: June to July and September to November.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: April to August.
Best time to start: April to May and July to August.
Pick: June to November.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: June to July.
Best time to start: June to July.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: February to April and July to August.
Transplant: April to May and September to October.
Best time to start: April to May and September to October.
Pick: June to September.
First pick about 23 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: April to June.
Best time to start: April to June.
Pick: August to November.
First pick about 15 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: May.
Direct sow: June.
Transplant: June.
Best time to start: May.
Pick: August to September.
First pick about 14 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: May to July.
Direct sow: June to July.
Transplant: June to July.
Best time to start: June.
Pick: July to September.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Denver
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||||
| Basil | T | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Bell pepper | T | T | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | ||||||
| Broccoli | T | P | P | T | T | P | about 13 weeks | ||||||
| Brussels sprouts | T | P | about 20 weeks | ||||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||||
| Cabbage | P | T | P | P | P | P | P | P | about 14 weeks | ||||
| Cantaloupe | P | about 10 weeks | |||||||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | about 14 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celeriac | T | P | about 21 weeks | ||||||||||
| Celery | T | T | P | P | P | about 19 weeks | |||||||
| Chives | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 8 weeks | |||||
| Cilantro | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||||
| Cucumber | T | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||
| Eggplant | T | T | P | about 18 weeks | |||||||||
| Fava beans | S | S | about 33 weeks | ||||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | about 36 weeks | ||||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | T | P | about 18 weeks | |||||||||
| Kale | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Leek | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 18 weeks | |||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Onion | P | T | T | P | P | T | T | P | about 23 weeks | ||||
| Parsley | T | S | S | S | S | S | P | about 7 weeks | |||||
| Peas | S | S | S | about 10 weeks | |||||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||||||
| Potato | P | P | P | about 9 weeks | |||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 3 weeks | ||||||
| Runner beans | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Spinach | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | about 15 weeks | |||||||||
| Sweet corn | T | S | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Tomato | T | T | P | P | about 17 weeks | ||||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Watermelon | T | P | about 9 weeks | ||||||||||
| Winter squash | T | S | about 14 weeks | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | T | S | S | about 7 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a quick-maturing (early) variety of: celeriac.
Denver season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, chives, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, potato, radish, scallions, spinach, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, turnip, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: celeriac, cilantro, lettuce, onion, peas, spinach and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: arugula, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cauliflower, lettuce, onion, pole beans, runner beans and turnip.
Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, lettuce, pole beans, potato, runner beans, scallions, strawberry, sweet corn, Swiss chard, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Fall September to November
Time to start: cilantro, fava beans, garlic and spinach.
Last chance for: arugula, bok choy, cabbage, chives, cilantro, dill, fava beans, garlic, kale, onion, parsley, radish, spinach and turnip.
Winter December to February
Time to start: celeriac, celery, leek and onion.
Last chance for: celeriac.
Frost in Denver
- Last frost, most years
- around May 4
- Frost is unlikely after
- about May 22
- First frost, most years
- around October 11
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 160
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Harder to grow in Denver
Needs a greenhouse or a warm, sheltered spot: okra, parsnip, rutabaga and sweet potato.
Questions about planting in Denver
What can I plant now in Denver?
In October, 4 vegetables can be sown or planted in Denver, including cabbage, fava beans, garlic and onion. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Denver?
In Denver, sow tomatoes indoors from April to May and transplant them from June to July. Picking runs from August to September.
When should I plant potatoes in Denver?
In Denver, plant potatoes from May to July. The best time to start is from May to July. Picking runs from July to October.
When should I plant garlic in Denver?
In Denver, plant garlic from September to October. The best time to start is from September to October. Picking runs from June to August.
When is the last frost in Denver?
In most years the last frost in Denver comes around May 4. Frost is unlikely after about May 22, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 11.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Denver?
The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks), lettuce (about 6 weeks) and scallions (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
Other cities
What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego
These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Denver. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).